Russia's War Has Its Novel
Published for free on Telegram, Dmitry Glukhovsky's "Registration" decries the moral corruption wrought on Russia by the war.
In mid-September, Russian émigré writer Dmitry Glukhovsky published his latest novel, "Registratsiya" (Registration), for free on his Telegram channel, bypassing the censors. The story revolves around a young woman, Ulyana, who attempts to marry her hospitalized boyfriend Sasha, who was gravely wounded while fighting in Ukraine.
Her motive is to receive the substantial payments provided to families of injured or deceased soldiers. The novel has gained significant attention from the diaspora of anti-war Russians and those within Russia who access banned social media through VPNs.
Glukhovsky, who is known for his science fiction, has taken a bold stance by writing a novel that directly addresses the current crisis. He faced consequences for his previous anti-war remarks online, with Russia designating him a "foreign agent" in 2022 and sentencing him to eight years in jail. To overcome censorship in Russia, Glukhovsky made "Registration" available online for free, a decision that would have been impossible due to severe penalties for criticizing the "special military operation" in Ukraine.
The protagonist, Ulyana, is faced with multiple challenges. She is pregnant with Sasha's child, has lost her job, and receives condemnation from her mother, Tatyana, who demands her abortion. When Ulyana visits Sasha's mother, she faces hostility and pressure to have an abortion. Ulyana learns that Sasha is seriously injured and awaiting surgery in a hospital outside Moscow. Without being married, Ulyana will not receive the family benefits, including the "coffin money" for widows and relatives.
In the climax of the story, Ulyana reaches her boyfriend's hospital bedside before his mother. She blackmails a corrupt doctor to allow the couple to get married, but the interruption to Sasha's care results in his death. Ulyana returns to Vologda, opens her own beauty salon, and employs a young woman she once defended. However, the official who pressured Ulyana earlier shows no sympathy, even if she claims to be a soldier's widow.
Ulyana ultimately reacts by smoking outside, leaving the official with no choice but to take action.
Written by urgent.news from The Moscow Times - Opinion's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
